Artist takes spiritual approach

Peters woman finds inspiration in Baha'i faith

Thursday, May 24, 2007By Dave ZuchowskiBarbara Curry started her professional career as a commercial artist afterattending Ferris State University. But in 1985, when her older son, Ryan,was born, she underwent a period of soul-searching that not only changed herart but also her life."Soon after Ryan was born, I decided that I'd be a good mother and changesome of my more irresponsible ways," said Mrs. Curry, of Peters. That led to an outlook on life that translated to a more spiritual approachto her painting and the selection of subjects for her artwork. "To get on the right path, I started searching for spiritual meaning in mylife by attending different churches," she said. "However, they all seemedto focus mostly on Sunday services, and I wanted a religion that would giveme daily guidance rather than just a weekly Sunday morning event."Living in Dallas at the time with her husband, Joe, a pilot for US Airways,she decided as part of her quest to study fine art and philosophy at theUniversity of North Texas. There, one of her professors who taught a courseon introduction to world religions made a huge impact on her life with hisknowledge of the subject and the way he treated all religions with respect."Eventually, when I discovered that he was a member of the Baha'i faith, Istarted to attend the Baha'i Center in Dallas," she said. "Four years afterRyan was born, I became a member of that faith."Influenced by the sheer volume of Baha'i literature that addresses the valueof art and how it can touch people's lives, Mrs. Curry has since developed aspiritual connection with her art. One particularly influential book, "ThePurpose of Spiritual Reality" by John S. Hatcher gave rise to her beliefthat the world is a classroom designed by God to instigate and nurturemental and spiritual growth."My goal as an artist is to observe nature and meditate on the lessons ithas to offer, then connect what I learn and see to the spiritual world inthe hope it will touch people's lives through my work," said Mrs. Curry, whomoved to Peters with her family in 1995.As an example, she refers to a recent painting titled "Sundust Road," alandscape she photographed one morning after jumping into a Jeep with herhusband and setting off for the back roads around the Eighty Four area ofWashington County."I must have taken at least 50 photos on our outing that morning, but thisone really struck me," she said.Mrs. Curry sees the road that grabbed her attention as a metaphor forhumanity's search for the meaning of life. Standing at a crossroads the roadran through, she was reminded of her son, 21 at the time, who had gone tocollege for a couple of years before deciding it wasn't for him."Wanting to do something with his life, he decided to enlist in the Navy,"she said. "I took the photo just after he talked to the recruiter but beforehe went off to boot camp, when he was at a crossroads in his own life."Another metaphor that struck her as particularly poignant was the way theshadows of the trees in the fields darkened portions of the road, givingrise to the thought that, without shadow, the light wouldn't seem as bright."If you compare the light, which gives form and color to objects, to God, hecan be seen as that which gives humans spiritual life, hope, understandingand compassion," she said.Some of Mrs. Curry's recent paintings, along with the works of eight otherartists will be included in a pastel exhibit that opens Saturday at Gallery200 on North Main Street in Washington. The exhibit opens with a receptionfrom 6 to 9 p.m. and will continue through June 30. At least three of her exhibited works focus on what she sees as the purposeof life -- the development of virtue."Painting, I believe, helps acquire virtue, such as humility," she said."For example, I'm usually happy with my paintings after I finish them, butthen have second thoughts later on when I see their flaws or someone pointsthem out to me. However, I feel humbled by the thought that my mistakes area means by which I can continue to grow as a person and an artist."A member of the Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League and the South Hills ArtLeague, Mrs. Curry has attended workshops with nationally andinternationally renowned artists such as Zoltan Szabo and Hong Tat Foo.Besides being featured at Gallery 200 in Washington, her work can be seen atPlanet Art Gallery in Mt. Lebanon, Farmhouse Coffee and the Fast FrameGallery in Peters, and at the World West Gallery in Washington.